POORSTACY expresses his frustrations with the false realities of society and social media in his latest track “Public Enemy” via 10K Projects.
Ahead of the release of his first full length hard rock album, the song is a thrashing commentary on the disillusionment of social norms and structures.
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Even more so, the age of the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically reduced the ways you can see and communicate with others. One of those ways is social media, digital platforms where you can choose what and when to post. Because of this control people have over how others see them, it can be hard to sort through what is real and what is fabricated.
POORSTACY knows there are angry people out there, and he hopes his music can be a positive outlet to help them push through their emotions.
“I can’t imagine how frustrated everybody must be with the current state of things,” POORSTACY exclusively tells Alternative Press. “COVID was a really tough time for a lot of people. I’ve been finding myself making more aggressive music because of how hard it is being cooped up inside all the time. Everybody is living online right now in this fake social media world that we’ve created for ourselves. I hope this song speaks to that.”
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A shining example of the aggressive kind of music POORSTACY has been making is “Public Enemy.” It also stays aligned with the punk, metal and hip-hop influences of his previous work such as “Hills Have Eyes” and Travis Barker collab “Nothing Left.” It also incorporates harder rock sensibilities as heard in the raging guitar riffs.
The song was inspired by the idea of what sleep, or rather a lack thereof, can do to an artist and how it impacts their work.
“‘Public Enemy’” was written in the moment,” POORSTACY exclusively says. “I sporadically flew to Los Angeles after a 5-days-of-no-sleep bender, and I was playing with the idea of sleep deprivation as an influence on my music, and using it as a charismatic drive for me to create. The song is very anti-society, anti-government. I think it’s perfect for this moment.”
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Mirroring the raging theme of the song, the visual is a thrilling black and white aesthetic that occasionally glitches to red and cyan. Co-directed by the singer himself, the grungy video sees a crowd holding ‘Wanted’ style posters with “Public Enemy” written above POORSTACY’s face. Skateboards, bicycles, plenty of middle fingers and even occasionally a gun, can also be spotted throughout the visual.
The video ends with an interviewer asking POORSTACY why he doesn’t like society. He responds, “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe the fact that everybody’s passing their days by suppressed by programming. Humans living happily in an illusion of free will, basking in the false reality of social media. Why would I be happy with the state of society? Fuck society.”
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“Public Enemy” is the singer’s first release of 2021 and kicks off his new musical era ahead of Party at the Cemetery. This can be seen on POORSTACY’s Instagram, as it is, ironically, wiped clean of photos. The only post is a teaser of the “Public Enemy” video.
Set for release this fall, the album keeps in line with the theme of the chaotic atmosphere that has been 2020 and 2021. The record is also influenced by staples in the scene such as My Chemical Romance and Pierce The Veil.
Other icons across various genres who heavily influenced POORSTACY’s sound include the likes of Slipknot, Earl Sweatshirt, Flatbush Zombies and Billy Idol. POORSTACY even shouts Idol out in the lyrics of “Public Enemy.”
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Skateboarder Stacy Peralta is another individual who had a massive influence on POORSTACY’s life. Peralta was even the inspiration for the stage name POORSTACY.
“Stacy Peralta himself was not shown a lot of attention at the start, but he ended up being one of the biggest legends in skateboarding in the end. I always loved the idea of that, of doing your own thing and having it pay off.”
You can watch the visual for “Public Enemy” below, and let us know your thoughts on the song in the comments.
“Public Enemy” lyrics
Fuck society, you don’t like me
Party on the street, public enemy
Fuck society, you don’t like me
Party on the street, public enemy
Fuck society, you don’t like me
Party on the street, public enemy
Fuck society, you don’t like me
Party on the street, public enemy
Riot screaming fuck police
5 shots in the back if you fuck with me
Black boots, switchblade don’t fuck with me
Never run unless the cops are coming after me
Your girl’s cute you should let her come and dance with me
Spiked juice, mix the Hennessy with ecstasy
Fuck society, you don’t like me
Party on the street, public enemy
Fuck society, you don’t like me
Party on the street, public enemy
Public enemy
Public enemy
Public enemy
Public enemy
Midnight driving through the street
Vision blurry I can’t even see who’s next to me
In a hurry, paranoid, tryna make it home
Rebel Yell, Billy Idol on the radio
Fuck society, you don’t like me
Party on the street, public enemy
Fuck society, you don’t like me
Party on the street, public enemy
Public enemy
Public enemy
Public enemy
Public enemy
Fuck society, you don’t like me
Party on the street, public enemy
Fuck society, you don’t like me
Party on the street, public enemy
Fuck society, you don’t like me
Party on the street, public enemy
Fuck society, you don’t like me
Party on the street, public enemy